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If you are traveling to the Philippines for the first time, you will almost certainly have questions about how to get cash on the ground. In this guide we go through those questions in detail and cover everything you need to know about withdrawing money in the Philippines.
Table of Contents
Better to Avoid Carrying Large Amounts of Cash
The days when you had to take large amounts of cash on a long trip are well and truly over. Today it is absolutely no problem to withdraw what you need from ATMs on the ground, or to pay for many things by card. That is not only safer, it also makes travel more pleasant overall. In general, we advise against carrying large amounts of cash on ALL trips, regardless of the country, unless you really need to.
Advantages of withdrawing money in the Philippines:
- You are not at risk of losing a large cash stash
- Better protection against robbery and theft
- Greater peace of mind
- No hassle with currency exchange and money changers
A Travel Card Is the Best Way to Withdraw Cash in the Philippines
In the Philippines, ATMs are widely available in all larger cities. You will find them at banks, in shopping malls or on the street. In tourist areas in particular there are plenty of ATMs, so short-term cash needs are usually not a problem. That is especially true for Boracay, Puerto Galera, Angeles City, Manila, Cebu, Davao, Bohol, to some extent Siargao, Coron, El Nido and Puerto Princesa.
Please note! Some remote island destinations in the Philippines have few ATMs, or none at all. In that case it is wise to bring a larger amount of cash in advance to pay for accommodation and food. Some hotels do offer a cash-advance service at reception, but it is usually very expensive.
The Best Travel Card for the Philippines
As you have seen, withdrawing cash in the Philippines is generally straightforward, and it is the safest way to get money. To make sure it always works — and stays reasonably cheap — the card you use matters. Below we have put together our recommendation for a travel card.
Tip: Regular debit cards from your home bank often do not work well for withdrawals in the Philippines, or they come with high fees. They are usually not a good option for getting cash there!
The Wise account lets you hold and convert 40+ currencies, including PHP. Fees depend on your country, and you get the mid-market exchange rate with transparent, relatively low conversion costs.
Spend and withdraw cash in the Philippines at the mid-market rate. Free ATM withdrawals up to a monthly limit, then a small fee, depending on the country your card was issued in.
You can also use a virtual card in the Wise app, freeze the card if needed and keep an eye on your spending while you travel.
- More on Wise* — see our travel card guide for the Philippines.
There is typically no monthly fee to hold the card in many countries; you mainly pay when you convert money or withdraw more than the free ATM limit, depending on your country.
A detailed guide to travel cards, including how Wise works and what to watch for, is here…
Info: It is best to always take at least two cards. That way one card is a backup if you lose the other or your provider freezes it.
Paying by Card in the Philippines
Paying by card is increasingly straightforward in the Philippines. You can use a card in many shops, restaurants and hotels. The larger the city or the more touristy the place, the easier it is. Card payments are generally no problem at the following types of places:
- Hotels
- Car rental desks
- Airline ticket counters
- Upscale restaurants and restaurant chains
- Fast-food and café chains
- Convenience stores
- Shopping malls
Withdrawing Money in the Philippines – A Guide
In the next section we look at banks, withdrawal fees and limits in the Philippines.
Banks and ATMs
The Philippines has a huge number of banks, including smaller local ones. The following, though, are among the largest in the country and operate a dense ATM network. You will find ATMs from these banks in every larger town:
- BPI
- PNB
- UCPB
- China Bank
- HSBC
- Maybank
- Union Bank
Withdrawal Limits in the Philippines
Depending on the bank, withdrawal limits of 20,000 to 100,000 PHP per transaction are typical. Below is a table with the ATM limits often quoted for banks in the Philippines:
| Bank name | Limit |
| BPI | ₱100,000 |
| China Bank | ₱50,000 |
| HSBC | ₱100,000 |
| Landbank | ₱50,000 |
| Maybank | ₱50,000 |
| Metrobank | ₱50,000 |
| PNB | ₱50,000 |
| PSBank | ₱30,000 |
| RCBC | ₱50,000 |
| Security Bank | ₱50,000 |
| UCPB | ₱20,000 |
| UnionBank | ₱20,000 |
PLEASE NOTE! Although we researched this table carefully, we have not yet been able to confirm the 50,000 and 100,000 PHP limits ourselves. With a foreign card you can usually withdraw only 10,000-20,000 PHP per transaction. You can, however, repeat the transaction several times without any problem.
ATM Fees in the Philippines
For cash withdrawals in the Philippines, local banks charge an ATM fee. Even if you have a card that offers free ATM withdrawals, you still have to pay this operator fee. Your card issuer’s “free withdrawals” promise usually covers only its own charges, not the ATM fees of banks abroad.
If your card also charges a foreign-transaction or withdrawal fee, the total would be:
Local ATM fee + card withdrawal fee = total fee
If you use the Wise card described above (see above), you generally pay only the local ATM fee within Wise’s monthly free-withdrawal limit (then a small Wise fee, depending on your country).
The ATM operator fee for withdrawals in the Philippines is often around 200-250 PHP — roughly a few euros, depending on the exchange rate.
The HSBC Bank is often cited as the only bank in the Philippines that does not charge ATM fees on foreign cards. If that still applies at the machine you use, you may be able to withdraw without a local operator fee.
We hope this guide to withdrawing money in the Philippines has been helpful. In our view, the best option is to get cash as you need it with a travel card such as Wise, and not to carry large amounts of cash. That is safer and reduces the risk of loss.
Do you still have questions or additions about withdrawing money in the Philippines? Feel free to leave a comment!